Vol. 435 No. 9
141 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Social Welfare when he intends to make the household budgeting system available to persons on single parents allowance in view of the fact that it is not available only to people on unemployment benefit and assistance.
The Household Budgeting Scheme is operated by An Post on behalf of the Department of Social Welfare. It was designed initially for unemployed people being paid through the Post Office network. The scheme is currently available in the greater Dublin area and in Counties Kilkenny and Waterford. It is being extended to other counties. It has operated very successfully and there are now over 1,600 clients with deductions under the scheme.
I favour the extension of the Household Budgeting system to other social welfare customers, including lone parents. However, because lone parents are paid by order books, significant changes to existing systems would be required to make the facility more widely available. This matter is currently being examined by my Department and An Post.
